JEA Receives Statewide Recognition for Programs That Enhance the Community

2023-11-07

JACKSONVILLE – The Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) recently recognized JEA with a “Building Strong Communities” award for making valuable investments that enhance the quality of life in Northeast Florida.

The annual award honors Florida public power utilities for leading community-focused programs that strengthen communities and go beyond efficient delivery of reliable and clean energy at reasonable rates. FMEA leaders recognized JEA at its Energy Connections Conference and Trade Show in Orlando on Nov. 7.

“It is an honor for JEA to receive this recognition, as improving lives and building communities is our mission,” said JEA Managing Director and CEO Jay Stowe. “It is what we do day in, day out because we are deeply committed to serving the people of Northeast Florida.”

JEA received recognition for the following community initiatives in the past year:

• JEA Power Pals Program – Power Pals is a three-week program taught by trained JEA employees. The program reaches approximately 250 first-grade students each year and helps educate them about electric safety through fun and interactive activities.
• JEA Solar – JEA’s solar farms deliver solar power to residential and business customers who want to enjoy the benefits of solar energy without installing any of the hardware. For customers and organizations that are interested in learning more about how solar power works, JEA offers in-depth farm tours that teach about the importance of battery storage for solar facilities.
• JEA Education Program – JEA partners with Duval County Public Schools to provide free books to students in grades K-6 within the JEA service territory. In the 2022/23 school year alone, JEA reached more than 30,000 through this program.
• Neighbor to Neighbor Program - Founded in 1987, JEA’s Neighbor to Neighbor Fund is a way for customers and employees to provide temporary assistance to customers unable to pay their utility bill during a financial crisis. The Neighbor to Neighbor Fund helps the elderly, disabled, and those less fortunate keep the lights on and water running. Each year, over 550 families are able to maintain utility services as a result of Neighbor to Neighbor. Each customer contribution goes directly to people in need. No expenses are deducted by JEA and every donation is tax-deductible.

“For the people who work for Florida’s public power utilities, it is more than just a job. It is a way for them to give back to their communities and an opportunity to strengthen the communities that they also live in,” FMEA Executive Director Amy Zubaly said.

Florida’s 33 public power utilities, combined, are the third largest electric provider in the state, serving 14 percent of Florida’s customers. Florida’s public power utilities serve more than 3 million Floridians and are a statewide employment leader with more than 5,700 employees.

About JEA

JEA is a not-for-profit, community-owned utility that provides safe and reliable services at reasonable rates to more than one million residents across four Northeast Florida counties. JEA is not owned by investors. It was created by the City of Jacksonville to meet the electricity and water needs of those who live in Jacksonville and surrounding communities. JEA’s 2,000-plus workforce is dedicated to ensuring the demands of its customers are met, both today and for generations to come, while protecting our precious natural resources and supporting our region’s growth and economic development.

Media Contact

Simone Garvey-Ewan, JEA Media Relations
media@jea.com | (904) 665-5500

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